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2017-06-08T04:58:27Z

Image: Seven News

The NSW Government will introduce legislation to provide certainty for Police if they need to use lethal force against terrorists.

Responding to recommendations made in the Lindt Café Siege Coronial Inquest, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was crucial police had clear powers if required to use force to keep the community safe from terrorism.

“As we have seen as recently as this week in Melbourne and on the weekend with the cowardly, evil acts in London, we need to be ever-vigilant to the emerging and evolving risks of terrorism,” she said.

NSW State Coroner Michael Barnes recommended that the Government consider legislative changes to ensure that Police have the necessary protections to resolve terrorist incidents in a manner most likely to minimise risk to the public.

“NSW will continue to have the toughest counter-terror laws in the country and we will now give our Police clear protections if they need to use lethal force against terrorists,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The legislation will be introduced in the next sitting week, along with legislation to tighten provisions around parole by requiring consideration of links to terrorism.

These reforms will build on the range of counter-terror measures implemented by this Government. Ms Berejiklian said the NSW Government accepted and supported all 45 recommendations made by Coroner in his measured and comprehensive report.

“My thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, as well as the other hostages caught up in the Lindt Café Siege," she added.

“I also take this opportunity to once again acknowledge the bravery of the police and first responders who put their lives on the line during the events of December 15 and 16, 2014.

“The Coroner made recommendations to the NSW Government as well as to the Commonwealth Government. Today we accept and support all of these recommendations.

“The Government will continue to do everything we can to keep the people of NSW safe.”